Scotland to Abolish Two-Child Benefit Cap

The Scottish government has announced plans to abolish the controversial two-child benefit cap, which restricts parents from claiming benefits for more than two children, aiming to lift over 15,000 children out of poverty by 2026. Finance Secretary Shona Robison criticized the cap as a 'pernicious' part of the UK welfare system, urging cooperation from the UK government to facilitate the change. The policy, initially introduced by the Conservative government in 2017, currently affects approximately 1.6 million children across the UK, with research indicating that its removal could potentially lift around 540,000 children out of poverty nationwide. The move puts pressure on Labour leader Keir Starmer, who has faced criticism for maintaining the cap despite calls for its repeal. The cost of lifting the cap is estimated at £2.5 billion annually, with Scottish costs projected to exceed £250 million. Charities are advocating for immediate action to scrap the cap as part of Labour's child poverty strategy to effectively address systemic poverty issues.